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Faith Reflections

In her sermon on May 13, 2012 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Appleton, Wisconsin, Rev. Joanne Thomson, Associate Conference Minister of the Wisconsin Conference of the UCC, pointed out that "Revelation was not written to be understood. It was written to shock." That shock is just what so many of us need right now. In the face of deep divisions in our society, it's time we take a chance on the Kingdom of God.

"Lord, help us to encourage meaningful ways to create change without losing our identity and sense of purpose." Board member Jill Wood-Naatz offered this faith reflection on change and identify at PCG's board meeting on May 15, 2012.

Yom Hashoah, the annual Holocaust Commemoration, is held each year in Springfield on April 19th. PCG staff attended the 2012 ceremony and, with permission, share the litany of remembrance and hope from that service as a prayer for those who died, those who survived, and those who --today-- live with courage and hope despite that legacy.

Like humanity, nature bears God’s imprint and likeness. It can never be a mere play-thing at the total and utter discretionary use of humans. Instead, we humans are a part of God's creation as a whole.

Rev. Erik Christensen, Pastor at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Logan Square, has shared his sermon from Palm Sunday with us to reflect on during Holy Week. He discusses last week's Mega Millions payout and the constant struggle we all face in determining whether Christ or wealth will occupy our hearts.

Responsibility. What’s your policy? That’s what the American people are being asked today. And that’s what religious communities and people of faith are again asking, especially on issues like sexuality, and reproductive health, and, yes, contraception.

Sunday morning, GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" to defend his remarks to the Ohio Christian Alliance. While speaking to the conservative Christian group last weekend, Santorum stated that President Obama perpetuates “some phony theology. Not a theology based on the Bible. A different theology.” This statement itself is problematic in several ways, not least of which is the tired implication that the president might not be a Christian. It was Santorum's clean up, though, that actually mucked everything up.

Over the years, I have fasted both communally with my prior church for the 40 days of Lent, and also individually as a one-day fast several times throughout the year.
The key for me is that it’s not just about fasting alone; it is being very intentional about fasting for the purpose of praying at the same time.